[Kyrsten]

I am an advanced level dancer and I've never had a problem, the only thing I won't do is a no-hands cradle because I can feel it on the pole and it doesn't feel so nice lol. Some people complain about theirs hitting the pole or snagging though, so I think it just depends on you. I had mine done for years before pole and I wear a plain barbell, no danglies.

At the beginner level, it probably isn't much of a concern, but if you are planning on getting it pierced, keep in mind that navel piercings take a LONG time to heal and give lots of people problems (in general, not on the pole). If you do get it pierced, be very, very cautious and aware when you're on the pole.

[Kyrsten]

Scorpio was definitely the WORST for me in terms of burning. I had no problem with some of the others people frequently complain about (superman never hurt me) but scorpio gave me hell for probably 2-3 months. The hip hold was pretty bad too because it grips in a similar place as scorpio.

But it did go away! And it will for you, unfortunately you just have to keep at it 🙁 Just wantedto say you're definitely not alone. Hang in there!

[Kyrsten]

I have a PS pole, but that is exactly what mine did when it was overtightened (too much tension between the floor and ceiling).

[Kyrsten]

I forgot about cupid! I still can't do that either, I pretty much gave up on it forever ago and said "not meant to be". LOL

[Kyrsten]

I don't know if it's helped my flexibility in the grand scheme of things, but foam rolling before practice or before stretching helps sooo much with making my legs feel looser and fluid. I love it.

[Kyrsten]

Split grip handspring!!! I finally did it twice over the last few days but it's been months and months… I can do twisted/true grip handsprings, and split grip cartwheel, but that one is just sooo harddd.

Flag invert.

Cross ankle release got me for a pretty long time.

Knee hold (Can do it now, but I can't hold it for more that a few seconds. My top/hooked knee just slips so much)

Cup grip shoulder mount.

Advanced plank.

[Kyrsten]

Thanks for the shout-out @Hyper 🙂

My pole is under 7 foot… I'm 5'2 and I can invert from the floor with straight legs as long as I'm cautious. If you can't chopper, try inverting directly into gemini, it's a little easier to not hit the ceiling. Also, if I invert right into gemini, I can get really high up because I can tuck up and get my knee pit gripping right near the ceiling, so I have more room to do some combos before hitting the floor.

For aerial inverts I have to do a tuck and then chopper it out. Same with shoulder mount — I have to do a shoulder mount V, but it's totally doable. I can even air shoulder mount.

But it is IS workable… Some tricks are pretty much impossible, like a full straight edge.. but I can probably do about 80-85% of moves on my pole. Many are quite tricky but where there's a will, there's a way 🙂 The only real limitation is when doing combos.

[Kyrsten]

Wait, shouldn't the hand of the shoulder you mount on be low and the other high? Or have I been doing this wrong all along? OR does it not matter?

I shoulder mount on my left and keep my left hand low and right hand high in all grips…

[Kyrsten]

I think I got my first invert after 8-10 weeks of class once, sometimes twice a week. A smooth, deadlift invert/chopper took me almost 4 months though. My pole progress went up exponentially when I got my own pole, about 3 months into dancing.

I see girls who walk in and can invert on the first try, no problem, and then others who take many months or even years. It all depends on the person.

Your style will come to you in time… try not to overthink it 🙂

[Kyrsten]

Flow is one of my weak points, and when I'm working on it, there are two things that really help me:

1 – Find a song that you FEEL — won't work if the song doesn't make you want to dance!

2 – Go sloooow and really feel your way through each movement. It makes such a big difference for me, if I watch a video of myself where I was making a point to really feel my way through each movement and then one where I'm just busting moves.

[Kyrsten]

From what I hear… practice, practice, practice…

I can hold myself away from the pole in the grip, and lift from the floor with a tiny push (I wouldn't call it a handspring, but it's not QUITE a lift), but the lift itself is a whole 'nother animal lol. I try to practice my iron X, my baby lift with the little push, and the hangman in hopes I'll get it one day.

It helps to start with my hips facing the ceiling and start by thinking of lifting my leg into my chest and rounding my back.

[Kyrsten]

Any tips for the split grip handspring? I can do a split grip cartwheel, a TG and true grip handspring, and a half split grip handspring, but the full split grip handspring just evades me 🙁

[Kyrsten]

The studio I go to has poles mounted at 15ft. There's an X-Pole multipiece and then other one-piece poles – the X-pole does bend/bounce quite a fair bit compared to the one pieces so I suppose that is something to take into consideration.

[Kyrsten]

Well that would be why I was having problems I bet! Thank you!

[Kyrsten]

I was just watching "Don't Trust the B- In Apartment 23" (new show on ABC) and there's a segment where the main character is looking for a roomate — one of the rejects is a pole dancing grandma.

http://abc.go.com/watch/dont-trust-the-b—–in-apt-23/SH55126557/VD55185758/pilot

You can see it there, at about 4:15. I laughed.